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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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JAMES M. SPEER, grocer, McKeesport, was born in Millerstown, Allegheny county, Oct. 23, 1854, a son of James and Frances (Metzger) Speer. His paternal grandfather was Thomas Speer, a son of Thomas Speer, a native of Ireland, and one of the pioneers of this county. His maternal grandfather was Michael Metzger, a son of Michael Metzger, a native of Germany and a pioneer of Millerstown. James Speer, the father of James M., is a resident of McKeesport, and is a blacksmith by occupation; is a practical and natural mechanic, and able to forge anything that can be made from iron. Our subject was reared in this county and educated in the common schools. He began life as a clerk, in which capacity he served fourteen years. He settled in McKeesport in 1880, and in 1882 embarked in his present business, at which he has been very successful. He married, in 1877, Mary M., daughter of George and Mary M.(Gilmore) Kirker, of Westmoreland county, and has two children, Bertha and Mary. Mr. Speer is a member of the U. P. Church; he is a republican.
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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.
View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies
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